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HelpTest Code Billings Clinic: 6773 Culture, Urine, Acid-Fast Bacillus (AFB) and Smear
Performing Laboratory
Montana Public Health Laboratory, Helena, MontanaMethodology
Includes AFB smear.Reflex Information:
This test may automatically reflex to other tests. An additional fee may be added. The ordering physician/provider must indicate if the reflex test is NOT DESIRED. Indicate on order if no reflex test is desired.
Method Name:
Broth Media/Instrumentation
Specimen Requirements
Collect 10 mL from an early-morning, clean-catch, random urine collection. One early-morning specimen collected on 3 to 6 consecutive days (1 per day) is recommended. Send each collection in a separate container. Do not pool specimens. Follow directions below for a clean-catch collection.
Males
1. Clean glans with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding foreskin retracted, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a sterile urine container with tightly-fitting lid.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Send urine at ambient or refrigerated temperature. Specimen cannot be frozen. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Females
1. Thoroughly clean urethral area with soap and water or benzalkonium chloride antiseptic towelette.
2. Rinse area with water or wet gauze pads.
3. While holding labia apart, begin voiding.
4. After several mL have passed, collect specimen without stopping flow of urine into a sterile urine container with tightly-fitting lid.
5. Label container with patient’s name (first and last), date and actual time of collection, and type of specimen.
6. Send urine at ambient or refrigerated temperature. Specimen cannot be frozen. Maintain sterility and forward promptly.
Note: Specimen source is required on request form for processing.
Reference Values
Negative (reported as positive or negative)Automatic call-back: any positive
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through SaturdayTest Classification and CPT Coding
CPT Code:87015 - concentration
87206 - fluorescent and/or AFB stain
87550 - Mycobacteria species, amplified probe technique
87555 - Mycobacteria tuberculosis, direct probe technique (if appropriate)
87560 - Mycobacteria avium-intracellulare, direct probe technique (if appropriate)
Microbiology Coding:
Proper coding for MICROBIOLOGY tests depends on what procedures are actually performed which may depend on the organism(s) isolated. When a culture is initially set up, organism(s) may be isolated and a presumptive identification takes place. When/if an organism(s) grows, a definitive identification and possible MIC of each organism may be indicated.